When I Grow Up
Fever Ray Lyrics


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When I grow up
I want to be a forester
Run through the moss on high heels
That's what I'll do
Throwing out boomerang
Waiting for it to come back to me

When I grow up
I want to live near the sea
Crab claws and bottles of rum
That's what I'll have
Staring at the seashell
Waiting for it to embrace me

I put my soul in what I do
Last night I drew a funny man
With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
It goes way bad
I never liked a sad look
From someone who wants to be loved by you

I'm very good with plants
When my friends are away
They let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
For a minute or two
Then back on my feet and cry for you

You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Too much time spent on nothing
Waiting for a moment to arise
The face in the ceiling
And arms too long
I wait for him to catch me





Waiting for you to embrace me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fever Ray's song "When I Grow Up" is a reflection of the artist's desire for a simple and peaceful life. In the first verse, the artist expresses her wish to be a forester and run through the moss on high heels. This could be interpreted as a longing for nature and freedom from societal norms that dictate what is "normal" for a woman to do. She throws a boomerang and waits for it to come back, symbolizing her faith in the universe and that her dreams will come to fruition.


In the second verse, the artist talks about her desire to live near the sea, have crab claws, and bottles of rum. She stares at the seashell and waits for it to embrace her, indicating a deep yearning for a sense of belonging and acceptance. The artist puts her soul into what she does and last night drew a funny man with dark eyes and a hanging tongue. This could be interpreted as her past experiences of getting attached to someone who didn't reciprocate her feelings, hence the sad look.


The artist is also in touch with nature as she is good with plants and cares for them when her friends are away. She rests on the seventh day for a minute or two, which is a Biblical reference to the day God rested after creating the world. The last lines of the song talk about waiting for someone to embrace her, indicating a need for love and affection that the artist craves.


Line by Line Meaning

When I grow up
Looking forward to the future and what the singer wants to become


I want to be a forester
The singer wants to work in natural surroundings surrounded by trees and woods


Run through the moss on high heels
The singer wants to live freely and confidently, and not be held back by anything


That's what I'll do
Asserting the artist's determination to achieve their dreams


Throwing out boomerang
Taking action and sending something out, waiting for it to come back


Waiting for it to come back to me
Looking forward to the eventual results of their actions


I want to live near the sea
Desiring to live near the water, and enjoy the beach and the ocean


Crab claws and bottles of rum
Enjoying seafood and alcoholic drinks associated with the beach life


That's what I'll have
Envisioning a future where the artist has everything they want


Staring at the seashell
Taking in the beauty of the ocean and its treasures


Waiting for it to embrace me
Longing to be a part of the natural world and to feel its embrace


I put my soul in what I do
Giving everything they have to the things they do, pouring their soul into their passions


Last night I drew a funny man
Engaging in creative activities, expressing themselves through art


With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
Creating something unique and different, not conforming to societal norms


It goes way bad
Things don't always turn out as planned, sometimes leading to negative outcomes


I never liked a sad look
Disliking seeing sadness in others, especially those who desire love and affection


From someone who wants to be loved by you
Empathizing with others who are seeking love and affection, feeling for their emotional pain


I'm very good with plants
Having a talent for taking care of and nurturing plants


When my friends are away
Having time to themselves when their friends are not around


They let me keep the soil moist
Taking care of their friends' plants, keeping them healthy and growing well


On the seventh day I rest
Taking time to rest, as if following a schedule or routine


For a minute or two
Only taking a brief break, not wanting to stop for too long


Then back on my feet and cry for you
Resuming their regular activities, but still feeling emotional about the person they long for


You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Noting something unusual or odd about the person they are addressing


Too much time spent on nothing
Critiquing someone's perceived lack of purpose or productivity


Waiting for a moment to arise
Passively sitting and waiting for something to happen, rather than taking initiative


The face in the ceiling
Observing something peculiar or unsettling in their surroundings


And arms too long
Noticing something physically unbalanced or awkward


I wait for him to catch me
Desiring to be rescued or caught by someone, possibly a romantic interest


Waiting for you to embrace me
Longing for someone to embrace or hold them, continuing the theme of desire for love and affection




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KARIN DREIJER ANDERSSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@BrodyBaddis

When I grow up
I want to be a forester
Run through the moss on high heels
That's what I'll do
Throwing out a boomerang
Waiting for it to come back to me

When I grow up
I want to live near the sea
Crab claws and bottles of rum
That's what I'll have
Staring at a seashell
Waiting for it to embrace me

I put my soul into what I do
Last night I drew a funny man
With dog eyes and a hanging tongue
It goes way back
I never like that sad look
From someone who wants to be loved by you

- - this version doesn’t have this verse
I'm very good with plants
When my friends are away
They let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
For a minute or two
Then back on my feet and call for you

- -

You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Too much time spent on nothing
Waiting for a moment to arise
The face in the ceiling
And arms too long
I'm waiting for him to catch me

Waiting for you to embrace me, oh-oh


//

This track remains in my memories. I keep coming back to it, just like Jai Paul’s tracks. Cheers to good music



@danny_89

love this song, I am captive to it.

I understand it as a sung from an adult who still waiting for a sign of affection (or a show of comfort) that they've had since childhood; a hug from mom/dad or the like. Maybe the person the narrator sings to abdondoned them, or died, or maybe they failed to return the love the child felt for them.

By the verses:
1-even when I grow up I'll be waiting for you to come (back) to me
2-for all the things I'll have, I'll be "waiting for it |you| to embrace me"
3-I did things for you, drew a picture, but I didn't like it because "I never liked a sad look
from someone who wants to be loved by you" - like I do.
4-I'm an adult/my friends trust me/I am responsible/I work- I stay occupied because when I have time to think, I cry for you.
5-(Cucumber facial?)you spent your time preparing for things that didn't happen, that didn't involve me. I was afraid in the dark.
And I'm...
Waiting for you to embrace me.



@BruceLee-ld9xd

When I grow up
I want to be a forester
Run through the moss on high heels
That's what I'll do
Throwing out boomerang
Waiting for it to come back to me
When I grow up
I want to live near the sea
Crab claws and bottles of rum
That's what I'll have
Staring at the seashell
Waiting for it to embrace me
I put my soul in what I do
Last night I drew a funny man
With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
It goes way bad
I never liked a sad look
From someone who wants to be loved by you
I'm very good with plants
When my friends are away
They let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
For a minute or two
Then back on my feet and cry for you
You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Too much time spent on nothing
Waiting for a moment to arise
The face in the ceiling
And arms too long



All comments from YouTube:

@Phil-qf7uv

The year is 2023 and this song still hits my soul.

@SeqK

"Like someone with the look in their eye who wants to be loved by you."

@vladmordred9627

It still feels the same ❤

@yohannypequero7180

I found it in April , I never heard it.

@scarletros

I found this song in 2023 and I'm so glad I did.

@christopherjobstraibitzer8407

Hello there ^^

28 More Replies...

@mayday4121

I remember when I first heard this. It felt like this song had been waiting for me for my entire lifetime.

@sennstrato7281

https://youtu.be/PicfQaXKtq4

@HEREISMULLEER

You've thrown a boomerang and been waiting for it to come back to you.

@filipemendes2295

Beautiful

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